West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-08-26
West Virgin Democrat.
rbom.s H. Mason, Business Manager

When there is vast private in
terest greatly concerned to ma'nufac-
ture a mistaken public opinion on
any subject, while no one is person
ally concerned to argue the other
side, the rank and fJe will be de-
ceived and will vote directly contra
nv to their welfare.
Men who reckon their private for
tunes by millions can well afford to
spend their profits freely to prevent
the repeal Of any law which puts in
their pockets money taken from the
pockets of the ignorant masses.
There are two classes of politi-
clans; one class endeavor to enlight
en- the people and induce them to
vote intelligently: Intelligent vot-
ing makes the masses prosper. The
other class scheme to prevent intel
ligent voting, and these politicians
receive the support and influence of
all men who thrive on laws which
plumber the rank and file.
There are q few papers, (unfor-
tunately very few of them, cOnduc-
ted by men ofen!ightened conviction
and pride of character, who would
no more sell their columns to advo-
cate a proposition that they do not
believe in, than they would sell their
personal influence and wilfully mis-
lead neighbOrs and friends. Gener-
ally, a newspaper is a machine kept
for hire to persons who wish to man
ufacture mistaken public opinion,
and their chief earnings come from
men whose profits arise from laws
that enable them ito pluck the geese
without making them cry" The
papers in this country which make
the most money do not seruple to
admit that they "are run on the
principles of a boarding house;
n boarding house ''on the European
PLAN" viz "any one may order what
he wants and pay for what he gets. "
So far as such papers are concerned,
"the public interest may be I'D.
OF course, there are many eonsci-
cntious editors but with few excep-
tions they have not sufficient infor-
nation, or time to acquire it, to form
opinions OF their own, and with the
best intentions they echo what they
find in their exchanges without
dreaming they are misleading their
readers by echoing what SINISTER
hand, furnished to the paper from
which they copy.
In the way of public enlightment
little is to be expected from the av-
erage modern politician. His sole
effort is to avoid antagonizing some
powerful private interest that is in
fluential among his constituents. 1t
is easier to float with every passing
delusion than to instruct the mass
es and teach geese how to prevent
being plucked." tits simple mat
ter to swim with the current of mis-
taken opinion but, to be leader, re-
quires manhood, enlightened cOnvic-
ton and a firm resolve to serve with
faithful devotion the people who tax
themselves to pay you 4 salary
to be a leader one must have cour-
age enough to antagonize the inhu-
ence of railroad managers and to de
fy the opposition Of millionailes
whose profits depend on keeping the
rank and file in ignorance. The aim
of the average politician is to pro
cure a reelection by avoiding any
issue with a powerful private inter
est, however hostile it may be to the
public welfare. The average mod
ern politician turns his eyes the
other way while 'the geese are being
1.t1,